Cyprian of Carthage: Wash the inside and the outside

You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give as alms those things that are within and then everything will be clean for you. Luke 11:40-41

“As water extinguisheth fire, so almsgiving quencheth sin.” [Sirach 3:20]. Here also it is shown and proved, that as in the laver of saving water the fire of Gehenna is extinguished, so by almsgiving and works of righteousness the flame of sins is subdued. And because in baptism remission of sins is granted once for all, constant and ceaseless labour, following the likeness of baptism, once again bestows the mercy of God.

The Lord teaches this also in the Gospel. For when the disciples were pointed out, as eating and not first washing their hands, He replied and said, “He that made that which is within, made also that which is without. But give alms, and behold all things are clean unto you” [Luke 11:40-41]; teaching hereby and showing, that not the hands are to be washed, but the heart, and that the foulness from inside is to be done away rather than that from outside; but that he who shall have cleansed what is within has cleansed also that which is without; and that if the mind is cleansed, a man has begun to be clean also in skin and body.

Further, admonishing, and showing whence we may be clean and purged, He added that alms must be given. He who is pitiful teaches and warns us that pity must be shown; and because He seeks to save those whom at a great cost He has redeemed, He teaches that those who, after the grace of baptism, have become foul, may once more be cleansed.”

Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) in his Treatise 8. On Works and Alms, 2.

Cyprian first quotes Sirach, also called Ecclesiasticus (not to be confused with Ecclesiastes). In modern times, we include it in the Apocrypha. The early church considered it as a helpful piece of Jewish wisdom literature.

He also cites Luke’s Gospel in admonishing us to wash ourselves, inside and out.

This treatise has got me thinking about Lent which starts in a couple weeks. The aim of the Lenten journey is to wash us on the inside and the outside in preparation for another year of living the Christian journey.

We fast, we pray, and we give to rinse away the foolishness (on the inside) and the foulness (on the outside) so our lives give off the fragrant aroma of Christ. Want to join me on the journey?

If so, download Lent Companion here. In my role as President & CEO of GTP, I plan to invite stewards around the world to a series of zooms during Lent. I will invite you to join as well.

And join me in praying for 34 church and nonprofit workers who travelled from 8 provinces across China to Beijing to get teaching and tools for strengthening biblical governance, resource development, and faithful administration.

And how are they to proclaim Him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:15. By the grace of God, the time went without interruption. I am safely in Taipei now.

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Isaiah 58:6

“Our prayers and fastings are of less avail, unless they are aided by almsgiving; that entreaties alone are of little force to obtain what they seek, unless they be made sufficient by the addition of deeds and good works…our petitions become efficacious by almsgiving, that life is redeemed from dangers by almsgiving, that souls are delivered from death by almsgiving.”

Cyprian of Carthage (190-258) in his Treatise 8. On Works and Alms, 5.

Our care for a neighbor in need is just words without deeds and good works, also known as almsgiving. Notice, Cyprian says that “our petitions become efficacious” when we couple them with good actions.

I am safely in Beijing and rather than talk about my context, let’s reflect where each of us finds ourselves today. God wants our fasting to loose, untie, and set free those around us.

This implies that we have eyes to see the needs around us. From there, we pray. Then we set aside our desires, which is the fasting part, and we take action to bring deliverance, freedom, and life to those around us.

Now unpack Cyprian’s words in light of Isaiah’s. Our prayers and fastings avail much, they become efficacious, they redeem some from dangers and deliver others from death. These are powerful proclamations.

Whether you find yourself in Beijing, Boston, Berlin, Barcelona, or Beirut. Needs abound all around you. Don’t just pray for them. Set aside your agenda and your desires and add deeds or good works to your prayers.

I find peace today knowing that God heard the prayers and saw the almsgiving of a centurion named Cornelius (Acts 10:2). God showed up for Him, so I know he will show up for us as we add deeds and good works to our petitions and fasting.

I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 2 Corinthians 11:27-28

“Now one of these excellences in the strictest sense according to the divine word is love for one’s neighbor, and this accordingly we are compelled to think of as possessed in a far higher degree by saints already at rest than by those who are in human weakness and wrestle on along with the weaker. It is not only here that “if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it and if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it” in the experience of those who love their brethren, for it beseems the love also of those who are beyond the present life to say “I have anxiety for all the churches.”

Origen of Alexandria (c.185-c.253) in his treatise On Prayer, 19.

The last 10 days in Hong Kong have been some of the most full and fruitful days of my life.

By the grace of God, I depart with Trevor and Tina to Beijing today rejoicing for all that God has done. Stay tuned for a report that includes our work in Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan.

As for the next leg of our journey, I don’t know what awaits us in China.

But I know this. We go because we are concerned for the well being of churches and ministries in China. Why care about the state of churches and ministries in other countries?

The divine Word teaches us to show our love for God by loving our neighbor.

Pray for us as we provide a training for about 45 workers in Beijing entitled “Strengthening support and service to China’s nonprofit organizations.”

I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach different teachings and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training [οἰκονομίαν Θεοῦ] that is known by faith. 1 Timothy 1:4

“If, indeed, our discussion had arisen from a love of contention, I should not be willing to have the inquiry raised a second time about the origin of evil; but, since we are prompted rather by friendship and the good of our neighbor to engage in controversy, I readily consent to have the question raised afresh on this subject. You have no doubt long been aware of the character of my mind, and of the object at which I aim in dispute: that I have no wish to vanquish falsehood by plausible reasoning, but rather that truth should be established in connection with thorough investigation. You yourself, too, are of the same mind, I am well assured. Whatever method, therefore, you deem successful for the discovery of truth, do not shrink from using it. For, by following a better course of argument, you will not only confer a benefit on yourself, but most assuredly on me also, instructing me concerning matters of which I am ignorant.”

Maximus of Jerusalem (served as bishop c. A.D. 185-196).

I just had the privilege of preaching my second of three services at Island ECC on Hong Kong Island as part of their “New Year, New You” series. It’s one of, if not the largest evangelical church in Hong Kong.

Here’s the link to the slides, the video, and a one-page summary.

Like Maximus encouraged the thorough investigation of tough topics prompted “by friendship and the good of our neighbor” I urged the church remain in “remain in Ephesus” and teach people to live according to God’s economy.

Like Ephesus in ancient times, Hong Kong is a finance hub for the world.

Here, and everywhere, we must not “shrink” from having conversations that show people how to serve God rather than money. When we do the hard work, we benefit and they do too.

I hope you benefit by watching the sermon or at least reading the one-page summary

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

“We who formerly treasured money and possessions more than anything else now hand over everything we have to a treasury for all and share it with everyone who needs it. We who formerly hated and murdered one another now live together and share the same table. We pray for our enemies and try to win those who hate us.”

Attributed widely to Justin the Martyr (100-165).

Soon it will be Sunday here in HK, and I will preach three services at Island ECC. My texts come from 1 Timothy and relate to this idea of putting off your former way of life, the thinking of the economy of this world, and put on the mindset of the economy of God (οἰκονομίαν Θεοῦ in 1 Timothy 1:4).

Ephesus was the financial capital of the ancient world. And, in the economy of this world mindset, all you needed was money to solve all your problems. This gives a person an operating system of greed. Alternatively, in the economy of God, all you need is God to solve all your problems.

Notice how this new self, this new OS, gives us an operating system of generosity as illustrated by this shift in Justin’s testimony. We formerly lived a certain way and that led us to treat one another horribly. No we share the same table and pray for others.

If you are reading this and you have not put off the former mindset on money, do it today. It will make you a slave to money and guide you to your destruction. And when you choose to live according to the economy of God, you enjoy and share His blessings and take hold of life.

Pray for me as proclaim this truth to bless one the largest churches in all of Hong Kong. It’s a big deal so please pray for me. Sure, I will make the link available afterwords. But for now, pray both for me and for all those who hear the “New Purpose” message God has put on my heart in their “A New Year, A New You” series.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:35-36

“It is the Christians, O Emperor, who have sought and found the truth, for they acknowledge God… They show love to their neighbors. They do not do to another what they would not wish to have done to themselves. They speak gently to those who oppress them, and in this way they make them their friends. It has become their passion to do good to their enemies… This, O Emperor, is the rule of life of the Christians, and this is their manner of life.”

This quote widely ascribed to Aristides of Athens (c. A.D. 137).

Notice the witness of the early church Christians before the Emperor in the second century. Their diligence to follow their rule of life as their manner of life reflected a consistent reputation of doing good to become known even to the Emperor.

This reflects precisely the reason GTP is in Hong Kong right now. We want churches and ministries to follow consistent standards so that their rule of life (standards) matches their manner of life (practice) and so they have a reputation of integrity and love.

Pray for strategic meetings with accountants, attorneys, and other professionals on Saturday. I will share biblical teaching and practical tools for helping them build trust and reflect that consistent witness.

And our prayers were answered yesterday. God raised up key pastors and ministry workers who desire to join a team which will draft the standards for churches and ministries in Hong Kong. Most others, nearly 50 in attendance, expressed interest to join the pilot group.

Basically from here, interested persons from the two parallel events on Thursday and Saturday in HK will surface interested people to join a team who will draft standards, engage a core group of ministries, and launch a pilot season.

Pray for them. The world is watching. We must reflect a consistent Christian witness wherever we are. This comes into view as our generous contribution to the kingdom as we glorify God together. Make your manner of life the same as your rule of life.

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Isaiah 58:6-7

“By the instrumentalities of these and similar passages, they subtlely tend at last to such a point, that every one who is somewhat prone to appetite finds it possible to regard as superfluous, and not so very necessary, the duties of abstinence from, or diminution or delay of, food, since “God,” forsooth, “prefers the works of justice and of innocence.” And we know the quality of the hortatory addresses of carnal conveniences, how easy it is to say, “I must believe with my whole heart; I must love God, and my neighbor as myself: for ‘on these two precepts the whole Law hangeth, and the prophets,’ not on the emptiness of my lungs and intestines.”

Tertullian of Carthage (155-220) in On Fasting” chapter 2.

Part of the focus of our GTP sessions in Hong Kong with pastors, ministry workers, accountants, attorneys, and other professionals centers around doing spiritual practices along with mapping standards.

We follow the example of Ezra and Nehemiah who rebuild the people with fasting, confession, prayer and standards. With Isaiah and Tertullian the focus of these practices moves beyond having empty intestines.

We must do works of justice or in plain terms, do work that makes things right. That’s why GTP facilitates the work of mobilizing influencers in a country to confess their sins, fast, pray, and set standards together.

This not only charts a new course, a fresh pathway for each church. It positions gospel ministry in a setting to have a consistent witness and to experience healthy growth.

God is working in powerful ways. Thanks for your prayers.

Care about them as much as you care about yourselves. Philippians 2:4

“Care not merely about your own things, but about your neighbor’s?”

Tertullian of Carthage (155-220) in On the Apparel of Women Book 2, Chapter 2.

When this posts it will be Thursday morning in Hong Kong.

Today’s event with pastors and ministry workers aims to challenge them biblically and practically to map standards together for administration and governance to honor God and position ministries to flourish.

This relates directly to today’s Scripture in this way.

It’s easy for a church or ministry to think only about it’s own work and ignore what other Christian servants are doing in the same district, region, or country. In this context, caring puts the needs of neighbor churches and ministries equal with our own.

While your church or ministry may be strong, what about the churches and ministries around you?

The idea of caring shows that we put our heart into it. We add thoughtfulness to it. We combine love with it. This did not match the ancient culture and looks different from modern patterns.

When we work together the strong help the weak and the body of Christ is strengthened.

Not only that, we learn fresh insights. We discover unanticipated blessings. We make new friends. And we bless others and receive blessing from them in ways both they and we could have never imagined.

Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31

“Nothing is independent of its neighbor.”

Tertullian of Carthage (155-220) in On Idolatry Chapter 8, entitled, “Other arts made subservient to idolatry. Lawful means of gaining a livelihood abundant.”

Interestingly, one of the responses to my sermon on Sunday (click here to listen and click here for sermon slides) related to the idea of interdependence. If we exhibit Christian generosity, one form of evidence is our interdependent living.

Or as Paula Mendoza, one of my colleagues at GTP always says, “Everything is connected to God and to everything else.” Because of this, our Lord calls us to act toward others the way we want them to act toward us.

Back in America, on of our most celebrated holidays is “Independence Day.” So, my home culture sends a strong message that healthy behavior is “independent” behavior.

In the Chinese cultural context, Confucius says the opposite as well, “Don’t do unto others what you don’t want done unto you.” This posture has people moving away from each other rather than toward each other.

Since the Greatest Commandment has us moving toward and connecting with God and our neighbor, let us move beyond the cultural pattern of independence and pursue the Christian vision of interdependence.

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:1-8

“If it is the fact that men bearing the name of Romans are found to be enemies of Rome, why are we, on the ground that we are regarded as enemies, denied the name of Romans? We may be at once Romans and foes of Rome, when men passing for Romans are discovered to be enemies of their country. So the affection, and fealty, and reverence, due to the emperors do not consist in such tokens of homage as these, which even hostility may be zealous in performing, chiefly as a cloak to its purposes; but in those ways which Deity as certainly enjoins on us, as they are held to be necessary in the case of all men as well as emperors. Deeds of true heart-goodness are not due by us to emperors alone. We never do good with respect of persons; for in our own interest we conduct ourselves as those who take no payment either of praise or premium from man, but from God, who both requires and remunerates an impartial benevolence. We are the same to emperors as to our ordinary neighbors. For we are equally forbidden to wish ill, to do ill, to speak ill, to think ill of all men. The thing we must not do to an emperor, we must not do to any one else: what we would not do to anybody, a fortiori, perhaps we should not do to him whom God has been pleased so highly to exalt.”

Tertullian of Carthage (155-220) in his Apology XXXVI.

I shot the new header photo on Kowloon side, looking across to Hong Kong island, at lunch after my preaching on Sunday. Do let me know if you want to listen to the message when it’s available.

In the middle of the second century, persecution against Christians started to grow. This brings to mind the question of how Christians should act in the face of such adversity.

Here, Tertullian echoes Paul to share how we should respond. He uses a powerful idea. I feel it is relevant because my country, America, is filled with contention rather than love.

Though many in the culture follow this pattern, we must not wish ill, do ill, speak ill, and think ill of others. This kind of behavior does not reflect the “true heart-goodness” befitting followers of Christ.

And because there are many places where I travel that there is hostility toward Christians. People often ask me how we should respond to unjust or harsh treatment. Paul and Tertullian offer an answer.

Generosity appears as showing “impartial benevolence” further defined as acting “the same to emperors as to our ordinary neighbors.” Is there a person on which God wants you to lavish impartial benevolence?